Secrets of Mantles, Covenants and Cords of Redemption.

God’s instructions in Numbers 15:37-41, were that every prayer shawl was to have fringes, and among the fringes; would be a blue string.

This custom figures prominently into many Old Testament and New Testament stories.The Tallit or Prayer Shawl is part of so many stories in the Bible and the more we read, the more it all makes sense and we continue to see how everything is connected.

One of the most beautiful scenes is in the book of Ruth 3:9. This account provides a further illustration of covenant, when Ruth pulled the prayer shawl/tallit of Boaz over herself as she lay at his feet on his threshing floor. 

(Threshing-floors are in danger of being robbed. For this reason, someone always sleeps on the floor until the grain is removed. Ruth 3:7)

Most translations say she pulled his skirt over her, however the Hebrew says,

she pulled his wing over her.The wing refers to the long established Hebrew tradition

referring to the way a male bird opens his wings during reproduction and courtship.

The tradition in Jewish history has been for a bridegroom to cover his bride with his prayer shawl at their wedding.It is interesting to note that a similar custom still prevails at Jewish weddings. The bridegroom covers his bride with the wing of his tallit, his prayer shawl, with its tassels at each corner, signifying that he is taking her into his care.

 This tradition evolved into the present day chuppah.  חוּפָּה‎    Literally, “canopy” or “covering”.

This is a prayer shawl held up by four poles and covers the bride and groom under its wings for their wedding ceremony; which is in fact, a blood covenant.

When Ruth pulled the prayer shawl over her she was in effect saying to Boaz, ‘let’s get married’. As he was her nearest relative/kinsman, she was asking that he perform the custom of the kinsman redeemer. 

“I am Ruth thine handmaid. Spread therefore your skirt (Hebrew), the corner of your garment over your handmaid; for you are my near kinsman.”  Boaz, did as was customary concerning this. He “spread his skirt” over Ruth. It is understood that by his immediate response, he was acknowledging his role and responsibility, indicating that he was by legal authority, taking her under his protection as his wife.This is a beautiful type and shadow of Jesus/Yeshua the Lion of the tribe of Judah is also our Kinsman-Redeemer.and the body of believers, His bride.

Incidentally, the location where Boaz winnowed barley on his threshing floor (Ruth 3:2),

 and where Ruth reveals herself to Boaz (Ruth 3:6-9);

was the very same threshing floor that David bought from Ornan the Jebusite (Araunah). Together with the oxen David gave fifty shekels of silver and built an altar there. (2 Samuel 24:18-24 1 Chronicles 21:18-28).
This was the very same place where Abraham had taken Isaac who had to be willing to be a sacrifice for God’s covenant to be established. That particular place which had been named Jehovah-Jireh for God would provide HIMSELF as the Lamb, (which He did). Isaac was bound with cords of sacrifice and ultimate redemption. (2 Chronicles 3:1).This very same threshing floor that David was instructed to purchase, later became the site of Solomon’s Temple. Located upon Mount Moriah, in Jerusalem and was also the place of the final covenant through Messiahs sacrifice. It is truly amazing how everything is connected.The Hebrew term ‘kanaph’ means an edge or ‘extremity’ of a garment. This passage obscured by English translations; speaks then of the fringe of Boaz robe being spread over Ruth, symbolizing the taking of Ruth under Boaz authority.

 

In Ezekiel, God speaks to Israel and says:

“Now when I passed by you, behold your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore unto you, and entered into covenant with you, and you became mine.” (Ezekiel 16:8)

As believers, the corners of our hearts and lives must be extended. Our compassions must not be limited to our family, friends; love and compassion must be extended to strangers and the poor who dwell in the four corners of the earth.

As a child of God there must be no end to our love, joy, giving and Shalom.

 As the children of Israel had extended the corners of their robes, so too, we must extend the corners of our hearts and reach out to those who are outside our lives. As we lengthen the cords of our lives and show love in a way that leads others ‘to touch the hem of our garments’, as they did His and by faith, find healing and miracles as His power flows through us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. To understand the significance of the tassel, we must first understand the significance of the hem.

The hem of a Jew’s garment was not, as in modern clothes, a simple fold of the cloth, sewn down to prevent the edge from fraying. It was a decorative feature that made a statement about the status and importance of the wearer.

The people of other nearby nations also had this custom. In texts found in Mesopotamia, references indicate that the removal of the fringe of a man’s garment was the equivalent of removing part of his personality. To cut off the hem of a wife’s garment was regarded as divorcing her.

Tablets have been found with the impression of a fringe as the mark of the individual, a personal seal or signature; the hem or fringe of a garment indicated the rank or personality of the wearer.

Kanaph also means the end, and tzizit is a tassle that extends the end.

 Although the Jews today have special garments called tallit to which they attach the tzitzit, this was not what God originally commanded. He intended the Hebrew people to add tzitzit to the regular clothing, not to create special garments to attach them to. The scholarly magazine Biblical Archeology Review offers some excellent insight into the ancient Hebrew custom.

The tassels were in fact extensions of the hem, as we learn from innumerable illustrations in ancient Near Eastern art.

“The hem of an ancient Near Eastern garment was not simply a fold sewed to prevent the threads of the cloth from unraveling. The hem of the outer garment or robe made an important social statement. It was usually the most ornate part of the garment. And the more important the individual, the more elaborate and the more ornate was the embroidery on the hem of his or her outer robe. The tassel must be understood as an extension of such a hem.”Extra-Biblical texts also teach us that the ornate hem was considered a symbolic extension of the owner himself and more specifically of his rank and authority….

The significance of the hem and of its being cut off is reflected in another famous Biblical episode. When the young and future king, David, fled from the jealous wrath of King Saul, Saul pursued David into the Judean wilderness near the Dead Sea. Weary from his pursuit, Saul went into one of the caves near the spring at Ein Gedi to relieve himself, unaware that David and his men were hiding in that very cave.

David’s men urged him to kill the unsuspecting Saul. Instead, David cut the hem of Saul’s cloak to prove that he could easily have killed Saul if he had wanted to, but that he would not harm the Lord’s anointed. The passage has a deeper significance, however – in some ways the opposite significance. The hem that David cut off was an extension of Saul’s person and authority. David did in fact harm the Lord’s anointed; that is why David immediately felt remorse for what he had done: “Afterward David reproached himself for having cut off the hem of Saul’s cloak” (1 Samuel 24:6). According to the New English Bible translation, David’s “conscience smote him” (1 Samuel 24:7).

Although protesting that he had not lifted a finger or a hand against the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 24:10), David had in fact committed a symbolic act – cutting off Saul’s hem – of enormous significance.

This significance was not lost on King Saul; he understood full well and no doubt why he said:

“Now I know that you will become king” (1 Samuel 24:20).‘David crept up on king Saul at the cave at En Gedi, and cut off his the fringe of his garment And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.’

David’s conscience troubled him for he knew that to cut off the king’s fringe of his garment, was like usurping or stealing his authority.It degraded and lowered him. At En Gedi, David had deprived Saul of his “authority.” (I Samuel 24:1-7).

After David prostrated himself before Saul, holding the severed fringe in his hand; David explained to Saul that he had not killed him, despite the urging of his men to do so. Saul’s heart, once again was touched with his integrity in the sparing of his own life spared that of David.

Vesture / Vestments

The High Priest wore a Vesture and we saw in the last post that Jesus/Yeshua also wore a tallit and surely used it to drape over the body of a Jairus’ daughter, when He called her back to life. Someday, when Messiah Jesus/Yeshua HaMashiach returns, He will be wearing a “vesture dipped in blood.” That vesture will no doubt be a recognizable Jewish tallit. He too is our Great High Priest. 

Kohen Gadol

כהן גדול‬

Another famous story connected to a tallit, concerns the time of Elijahs departure, when he and Elisha travelled from Jericho to Jordan. Then on the west bank Elijah took his cloak rolled it up and struck the water with it. Like the (Red) Reed Sea parted as the children of Israel left Egypt, the waters of the Jordan parted allowing the two men to walk across on the dry riverbed.After Elijah was caught up to heaven in a whirlwind; Elisha took Elijahs cloak and repeated the miraculous crossing from the East bank back to the West. Twice the waters parted.Jewish traditions indicate that the mantle that fell from Elijah was a talitt/tallith or prayer shawl.

The tallith of a prophet or master teacher would have dark purple-blue threads in the corner tassel.

People believed that the purple thread contained miracle power. This is why the woman with the issue of blood wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ tallith or garment. When she was healed, Jesus said, “Who touched Me?…I felt virtue leave Me.” Then He told her, “Your faith has made you whole,” clarifying it was not a purple thread but her faith in Him as Messiah (see Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:43-48).Elijah’s tallith, mantle, or “adar” symbolized that Elisha had removed any barriers to his relationship with God. He was no longer the servant but now stepped into the place of the prophet he had served.

Elijah’s mantle was a doorway to God’s power.

Elijah told Elisha that if he saw him taken, he would have his desire to carry on the prophetic ministry with a double portion of his spirit.The mantle is a symbol of joy and completion.

Elijah left his mantle as a sign that he had completed his assignment.

Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle indicating the start of a new era; he was picking up where Elijah left off and beginning his own ministry as a prophet.

Elijah’s mantle was a symbol of an agreement of power and authority between Elijah and God.

Elisha’s picking up Elijah’s mantle symbolized that he was entering into the same agreement with God. When Elisha used Elijah’s mantle to part the Jordan River, God established His agreement or covenant with Elisha.Elijah’s mantle was probably a prayer shawl, a tallit. 

The pattern for the prayer shawl was first given to Moses atop Mount Sinai to represent the individual’s tabernacle.

It symbolized the fact that the human body was a temple and that the brain was the site of the Holy of Holies. Each morning every man stood in front of his “tent” (tallit), as the morning sacrifice was made at the brazen altar in the center of the camp. This repetitive action taught the people the art of worship and prayer.Elijah used his tallit to drape over the shoulders of Elisha when calling him to be his successor.When Elijah was caught up in the heavenly chariot, he gave his tallit to Elisha. The tallit was a holy garment and used in praying for the sick. Both Elijah and Elisha placed the tallit over the bodies of dead boys when praying for the miracle of life. Just as Jesus/Yeshua did with Jairus daughter.For some people, the tallit is a sacred garment worn during special occasions. To others, it is a mysterious object full of symbolism and hidden meaning. The significance of the prayer shawl is that it symbolically represents God’s presence, healing, love, forgiveness and resurrection life.

THE TALLIT and COVENANT AUTHORITY:

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and His train filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)

The concept of the outer edge of the tallit, is seen in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord, whose “train” filled the temple.

The Hebrew term for “skirt” is KANAPH, and means “wing or extremity.” Sometimes SHUL is also used, meaning “loose hanging.” (Exodus 28:33) In the Authorized Version it is rendered as “hem.”

Also in Psalm 133:2, we read:

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard: even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment.”

Probably his tallit and its zitzit.

As we remain under His wings and close to His heart…then we will be ready when He returns to gather us up under His Wings forever. For us the key question is:

Are we wrapping our life with the Lord like the wrappings of the talitt? If so, how tightly? 

Are we so completely entwined, that there is no chance of ever being undone or separated?

Are we clinging tightly to Him alone?This symbolic twisting and intertwining of cords, tassels and zitzit, will aid us in living our life for Him and not seeking after our own heart and our own eyes, but only after His.

 Shalom! His Peace Always Be With You.

Please don’t leave this site without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm. 

Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. 

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship not Religion.

NOT SURE?

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

more at https://www.minimannamoments.com/welcome-come-taste-some-bread-of-life-bread-from-heaven/life-changing-information-guaranteed/